Skincare brush with heating and cooling capabilities, and associated systems and methods

ABSTRACT

A skincare device having a brush head configured to contact a face of a user is presented. The brush head includes a plurality of bristles configured to oscillate about a center point, and a thermal element configured to heat or cool skin of the user. In some embodiments, the thermal element includes a thermal element vessel, and a thermal element filler inside the thermal element vessel.

SUMMARY

This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This summary is not intended to identify key features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.

In an embodiment, a skincare device includes a brush head configured to contact a face of a user. The brush head includes: a plurality of bristles configured to oscillate about a center point; and a thermal element configured to heat or cool skin of the user.

In one aspect, the thermal element includes: a thermal element vessel; and a thermal element filler inside the thermal element vessel. In one aspect, the thermal element filler includes granular material. In another aspect, the thermal element vessel includes a textile material.

In one aspect, the thermal element includes a phase-change material. In another aspect, the phase-change material is a wax material. In one aspect, the phase-change material is a first phase-change material configured to change its phase at a first temperature that is lower than a skin temperature, and the thermal element also includes a second phase-change material configured to change its phase at a second temperature that is higher than the skin temperature. In one aspect, the thermal element comprises a Peltier element configured to lower a temperature of the thermal element.

In one aspect, the skincare device also includes a handle configured to mate with the brush head, where the handle has: a motor; a battery configured to provide electrical current to the motor; and a shaft mechanically connected with the brush head. The shaft is configured to impart an oscillatory motion onto the plurality of bristles.

In one aspect, the thermal element includes a receiver coil and the handle includes a transmitter coil, and the receiver coil is configured to generate heat when electromagnetically coupled with the transmitter coil.

In one aspect, the skincare device includes a charging base configured to thermally charge the thermal element. In one aspect, the charging base is further configured to electrically charge a battery of the device.

In one aspect, the thermal element at least partially surrounds the plurality of bristles. In one aspect, the end effector is face brush.

In an embodiment, a skincare device includes a brush head configured to contact a face of a user. The brush head includes: a plurality of bristles configured to oscillate about a center point, and a thermal element configured to heat or cool skin of the user. The skincare device also includes a handle configured to mate with the brush head, where the handle has: a motor, a battery configured to provide electrical current to the motor, and a shaft mechanically connected with the brush head.

In one aspect, the thermal element includes granular material. In one aspect, the thermal element vessel includes a phase-change material. In another aspect, the phase-change material is a first phase-change material configured to change its phase at a first temperature that is lower than a skin temperature, the thermal element further having a second phase-change material configured to change its phase at a second temperature that is higher than the skin temperature. In one aspect, the thermal element includes a Peltier element configured to lower a temperature of the thermal element. In another aspect, the thermal element includes a receiver coil and the handle includes a transmitter coil, and the receiver coil is configured to generate heat when electromagnetically coupled with the transmitter coil.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing aspects and the attendant advantages of the inventive technology will become more readily appreciated as the same become better understood by reference to the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a skincare device in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the skincare device in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology;

FIGS. 2A and 2B are cross-sectional views of the embodiments of the skincare device shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 2C is a detail view of the skincare device shown in FIG. 2A;

FIG. 3 is a front view of the skincare device in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology;

FIG. 4 is a partial view of charging a skincare device in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology; and

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a skincare device in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following disclosure describes various embodiments of systems and associated methods for measuring and indicating brush head life. A person skilled in the relevant art will also understand that the technology may have additional embodiments, and that the technology may be practiced without several of the details of the embodiments described below with reference to FIGS. 1-5.

Briefly described, skincare brushes with heating and cooling capabilities are described herein. In some embodiments, the device includes an oscillating end effector (e.g., a face brush) and one or more thermal elements. In operation, the end effector oscillates to impart motion onto skin of a user, while the thermal element contacts skin of the user. In some embodiments, the thermal element is stationary with respect to skin, that is, the face brush oscillates and the thermal element does not oscillate. Without being bound to theory, it is believed that heating or cooling skin of a user in conjunction with imparting motion onto skin may have therapeutic or soothing effects on the user. In different embodiments, the thermal element is peripheral to the face brush, or is surrounded by the face brush. In some embodiments, the thermal element includes a filler material (e.g., a granular material) inside a thermal element vessel or holder (e.g., a textile material). In different embodiments, the face brush may have different number and/or location of thermal elements.

Thermal elements may be brought to their set temperature by electrical heaters, Peltier elements, inductive heaters, contact heating/cooling through the base of the device, air heating/cooling through the base of the device, etc. The thermal element may be preheated or precooled to a set temperature that is either below or above skin temperature, depending on a desired effect on the user. In some embodiments, the thermal element includes phase-change materials that undergo solid/liquid phase-change at a temperature that is below or above the skin temperature. Generally, the phase-change materials have relatively high thermal capacity, thus being capable of operating for relatively long periods of time without thermal recharging.

FIG. 1 is a side view of a skincare device 1000 in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology. In some embodiments, the skincare device 1000 is a face brush having a brush head 100 that oscillates about a center axis when in operation. As bristles 110 contact skin of a user 50, a thermal element 120 also contacts skin. The thermal element 120 may be warmer or colder than skin of a user. Without being bound to theory, it is believed that heating or cooling skin of the user, in conjunction with imparting motion onto skin, may have therapeutic or soothing effects to the user. The thermal element 120 may be deformable, thus approximating the contour of the skin in use. In some embodiments, the thermal element 120 can heat/cool skin of the user without making physical contact with the user. For example, the thermal element 120 may emit infrared waves to heat skin of the user.

Illustrated skincare device 1000 includes a handle 200. In different embodiments, the handle 200 carries an energy source (e.g., batteries), a motor for imparting motion on the brush head 100, a controller for regulating operation of the device, and/or other elements of the skincare device.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the skincare device in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology. In the illustrated embodiment, the thermal element 120 surrounds the bristles 110, but in different embodiments different arrangements of the thermal elements and bristles are also possible. For example, the bristles 110 may surround a centrally located thermal element 120.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are cross-sectional views of the embodiments of the skincare device shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 2A shows the thermal element 120 having a thermal element filler (material) 124 that is kept inside a thermal element vessel 122. The thermal element filler may be granular material, either non-organic (e.g., salt granules, sand, etc.) or organic (e.g., rice seeds, other plant seeds, etc.). In some embodiments, the thermal filler 124 can be bees wax, wax-like artificial material, gelatinous material, etc.

In operation, a shaft 320 oscillates the bristles 110 against skin of the user, while the thermal element 120 remains generally static with respect to skin. The shaft 320 may extend through an opening 130 in the brush head 100. The shaft 320 may be actuated by a motor (not shown) carried by the handle 200. In the illustrated embodiment, the oscillation of the shaft 320 oscillates the face brush 110, while the thermal element 120 remains in a relatively fixed position in contact with skin of the user.

In some embodiments, the thermal element 120 is heated or cooled by one or more thermal sources or sinks 126. Some non-exclusive examples of such thermal sources/sinks are electrical heaters and Peltier cooling elements. In other embodiments, the thermal element 120 may be heated through infrared read heating from a source of infrared radiation 126. This “thermal charging” of the thermal element 120 may take place while the brush head operates or when the brush head is at rest. The thermal sources/sinks 126 may be powered by electrical current 127 from one or more batteries 128 or from a line source of power.

FIG. 2B shows the thermal element 120 having an induction based source of power for the thermal source 126. In some embodiments, an inductive coil 141 is in electrical contact with a source of alternating current (AC). For example, the battery 128 may be connected to a direct current—to—alternate current (DC to AC) converter to provide AC to the inductive coil 141. In operation, the inductive coil 141 transfers energy to either a receiver inductive coil 142 or a receiver inductive plate 140. In some embodiments, the receiver inductive coil/plate provides heat to the thermal element 120.

FIG. 2C is a detail view of the skincare device shown in FIG. 2A. In some embodiments, the thermal filler 124 includes different components. For example, thermal filler 124-1 may have a relatively high thermal capacity, but also be relatively hard, while a thermal filler 124-2 may have relatively low thermal capacity, but low hardness and low specific weight. As a result, in some embodiments, a mixture of the thermal fillers 124-1 and 124-2 has an optimized set of thermo-mechanical attributes (e.g., thermal capacity, specific weight, softness, etc.). In some embodiments, the thermal filler 124 is a phase-change material that undergoes a phase change at a specific temperature. For example, the phase-change temperature of the thermal filler 124 may be relatively close to the temperature of skin, for example within 1-5° C. of the skin temperature. Therefore, a treatment may start with a solid thermal material at a temperature that is below skin temperature, and, as the phase-change thermal filler 124 is heated in contact with skin of the user, the thermal filler 124 melts into a liquid phase. Conversely, the phase-change thermal filler 124 may initially be a liquid having a phase-change temperature above the temperature of skin. During the treatment, the phase-change thermal filler 124 solidifies as its temperature falls and approaches the temperature of skin. In general, phase-change thermal fillers are characterized by a relatively high heat capacity at their phase-change temperature. Therefore, such materials may operate in contact with skin for prolonged periods of time before having to be cooled/heated to their initial set point. In some embodiments, the thermal filler 124-1 may have a phase-change temperature above the skin temperature, and the thermal filler 124-2 may have a phase-change temperature below the skin temperature. In some embodiments, the thermal filler 124 can be a component made of a non-phase changing material, such as a ceramic or metal ring having a sufficient heat capacity to keep the temperature of the thermal filler 124 within a narrow range while in use. Like with the phase-change materials, such thermal filler 124 is brought to the set temperature using an external heater or cooler, or a built in Peltier device, etc., as described above. Such thermal filler 124 may be used alone or in combination with the phase-change materials.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the skincare device in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology. In the illustrated embodiment, a centrally located thermal element 120 is surrounded by the bristles 110, but in different embodiments different arrangements of the thermal elements and bristles are also possible. For example, the brush head 100 may include multiple thermal elements 120 distributed over the central portion of the brush head.

FIG. 4 is a partial view of charging a skincare device 1000 in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology. In some embodiments, a charging base 300 preheats or precools the thermal element 120. For example, the charging base 300 may include the thermal source 126 (e.g., an electrical heater, a Peltier element, a refrigeration circuit, etc.) that is powered from a source of electrical voltage 128 (e.g., a battery or a line voltage). The charging base 300 may be shaped for securely receiving and holding the skincare device 1000 while the thermal element 120 is preheated or precooled.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a skincare device 1000 in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology. In operation, a motor 310 oscillates the shaft 320 that is connected with a hub 330. Oscillation of the shaft 320 is denoted by arrows OSC. In some embodiments, bristles 110 of the end effector 100 oscillate with the oscillation of the hub 300, while the thermal element 120 stays in a relatively fixed position in contact with skin of the user.

In some embodiments, the skincare device 1000 may include one or more temperature sensors 341 configured to sense temperature of the thermal element 120. Some examples of such temperature sensors 341 are thermocouples, thermistors, infrared sensors, etc. In operation, a controller 340 may start, end or time a skin treatment based on input from the temperature sensor 341. For example, when temperature of the thermal element 120 falls below a predetermined threshold, a signal may be sent to user to thermally recharge the skincare device before continuing the treatment. In some embodiments, the controller 340 also controls actuation of the motor 310.

Many embodiments of the technology described above may take the form of computer- or controller-executable instructions, including routines executed by a programmable computer or controller. Those skilled in the relevant art will appreciate that the technology can be practiced on computer/controller systems other than those shown and described above. The technology can be embodied in a special-purpose computer, controller or data processor that is specifically programmed, configured or constructed to perform one or more of the computer-executable instructions described above. Accordingly, the terms “computer” and “controller” as generally used herein refer to any data processor and can include Internet appliances and hand-held devices (including palm-top computers, wearable computers, cellular or mobile phones, multi-processor systems, processor-based or programmable consumer electronics, network computers, mini computers and the like).

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that specific embodiments of the technology have been described herein for purposes of illustration, but that various modifications may be made without deviating from the disclosure. For example, in some embodiments the counter or controller may be based on a low-power buck regulator connected to a capacitor. Moreover, while various advantages and features associated with certain embodiments have been described above in the context of those embodiments, other embodiments may also exhibit such advantages and/or features, and not all embodiments need necessarily exhibit such advantages and/or features to fall within the scope of the technology. Accordingly, the disclosure can encompass other embodiments not expressly shown or described herein.

The present application may also reference quantities and numbers. Unless specifically stated, such quantities and numbers are not to be considered restrictive, but exemplary of the possible quantities or numbers associated with the present application.

Also in this regard, the present application may use the term “plurality” to reference a quantity or number. In this regard, the term “plurality” is meant to be any number that is more than one, for example, two, three, four, five, etc. The terms “about,” “approximately,” etc., mean plus or minus 5% of the stated value.

The principles, representative embodiments, and modes of operation of the present disclosure have been described in the foregoing description. However, aspects of the present disclosure, which are intended to be protected, are not to be construed as limited to the particular embodiments disclosed. Further, the embodiments described herein are to be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive. It will be appreciated that variations and changes may be made by others, and equivalents employed, without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure. Accordingly, it is expressly intended that all such variations, changes, and equivalents fall within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as claimed. 

I/we claim:
 1. A skincare device, comprising: a brush head configured to contact a face of a user, the brush head comprising: a plurality of bristles configured to oscillate about a center point; and a thermal element configured to heat or cool skin of the user.
 2. The device of claim 1, wherein the thermal element comprises: a thermal element vessel; and a thermal element filler inside the thermal element vessel.
 3. The device of claim 2, wherein the thermal element filler comprises a granular material.
 4. The device of claim 2, wherein the thermal element vessel comprises a textile material.
 5. The device of claim 1, wherein the thermal element comprises a phase-change material.
 6. The device of claim 5, wherein the phase-change material is a wax material.
 7. The device of claim 5, wherein the phase-change material is a first phase-change material configured to change its phase at a first temperature that is lower than a skin temperature, the thermal element further comprising a second phase-change material configured to change its phase at a second temperature that is higher than the skin temperature.
 8. The device of claim 1, wherein the thermal element comprises a Peltier element configured to lower a temperature of the thermal element.
 9. The device of claim 1, further comprising a handle configured to mate with the brush head, the handle comprising: a motor; a battery configured to provide electrical current to the motor; and a shaft mechanically connected with the brush head, wherein the shaft is configured to impart an oscillatory motion onto the plurality of bristles.
 10. The device of claim 9, wherein the thermal element comprises a receiver coil and the handle comprises a transmitter coil, and wherein the receiver coil is configured to generate heat when electromagnetically coupled with the transmitter coil.
 11. The device of claim 1, further comprising a charging base configured to thermally charge the thermal element.
 12. The device of claim 11, wherein the charging base is further configured to electrically charge a battery of the device.
 13. The device of claim 1, wherein the thermal element at least partially surrounds the plurality of bristles.
 14. The device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of bristles at least partially surround the thermal element.
 15. A skincare device, comprising: a brush head configured to contact a face of a user, the brush head comprising: a plurality of bristles configured to oscillate about a center point, and a thermal element configured to heat or cool skin of the user; and a handle configured to mate with the brush head, the handle comprising: a motor, a battery configured to provide electrical current to the motor, and a shaft mechanically connected with the brush head.
 16. The device of claim 15, wherein the thermal element comprises a granular material.
 17. The device of claim 15, wherein the thermal element vessel comprises a phase-change material.
 18. The device of claim 17, wherein the phase-change material is a first phase-change material configured to change its phase at a first temperature that is lower than a skin temperature, the thermal element further comprising a second phase-change material configured to change its phase at a second temperature that is higher than the skin temperature.
 19. The device of claim 15, wherein the thermal element comprises a Peltier element configured to lower a temperature of the thermal element.
 20. The device of claim 15, wherein the thermal element comprises a receiver coil and the handle comprises a transmitter coil, and wherein the receiver coil is configured to generate heat when electromagnetically coupled with the transmitter coil.
 21. The device of claim 15, further comprising a charging base configured to thermally charge the thermal element. 